Help???

[m3f_gno_bts]

GOOD NEWS - I picked up my 97 M3 sedan today. drives awesome, i am so happy with the car



QUESTION - On the way home, my check engine light came on, the car has been in storage for a while, (almost 2 years). Any idea why the check engine light would be on? can i turn this off??

[m3f_sfoster_f5bf245797]

your good news just turned into bad news. the check engine light doesn't come on just for the hell of it. i would take it to someone who knows bmw's and have it checked out. sorry but a check engine light is not good.

[m3f_gno_bts]

your good news just turned into bad news. the check engine light doesn't come on just for the hell of it. i would take it to someone who knows bmw's and have it checked out. sorry but a check engine light is not good.



I had this happen with my 325i, they just had to replace an O2 sensor...

[m3f_sfoster_f5bf245797]

well, have the car checked. it could be one of a thousand things. that check engine light could mean anything.

[m3f_gno_bts]

Thanks for your help, just one more question, Is the 97 M3 OBD or OBDii?

[m3f_gno_bts]

Never mind, after taking 5 min and doing some research on the net, i figured it out. OBDII, Does anyone know how to check codes on these cars, or do have to take it to the dealer?

[m3f_GrkMf95M3]

You should be able to take it to any BMW shop. You cant check it yourself unless you have a special tool.

[m3f_Tpb31_67f747186d]

If you have a lap top with the proper software, you can check it yourself. But you need the owners manual to decipher the code the software will put up. I forget the name of the program I have, but when I get home I will check it out if anyone wants.

[m3f_astan100_7ef66fbe89]

There's like a 100 dollar or so tool that lets you check your own codes. If you can find someone in your area who has one, you can save a little cash.

[m3f_Norlin]

For code checking I have a Digimoto (www.digimoto.com) there's a bunch of others out there, and there are probably cheaper ones too

[m3f_Tpb31_67f747186d]

Where in So Cal are you??? I am in Pasadena. I might be able to help you out once I get my lap top back to check the code. Hey, out of curiosity, is there a list of codes on FAQ's on this site? Or is there a place where I can find them online?

[m3f_97BLKM3COU_0f375e15e2]

It is probably a bad O2 sensor or your gas cap is either loose or the gasket is bad on the cap.



The check engine light usually comes on when there is a problem with the emmission's system. Check your gas cap.



Did you have the car on while you filled it up, that will trigger it too.

[m3f_Tpb31_67f747186d]

97BLKM3COUPE, all I have to say is brilliant minds think alike, as that is what I was telling him.

[m3f_berjepalon]

Had a check engine light on mine 2 years ago. I hooked the negative terminal to the battery, let it sit for about 10 minutes, rehooked the negative and drove around for the next few days to see if the light would come back on. It never did. Problem solved and the car still drives great even now.



My opinion, check engine light not always a bad thing.

[m3f_Angella_c036ec6b5f]

yum - 2 years of storage, I bet that gas is fresh and tasty...



Even if it was almost completely out of gas while in storage, there would still have been some there... and fuel stabilizers don't keep it good for that long.